MICRO WATERSHED ECOSYSTEMS CONSERVATION

In January 2013, the Ramsar Secretariat formerly declared Wilpattu Ramsar Wetland Cluster as Sri Lankas sixth Wetland of International Importance. The site encompasses all of Wilpattu National Park declared in 1938. About 205 water bodies, both natural and manmade, are present within the boundary of the park. A unique feature is the numerous.

Micro watershed is a starting point of rivers or streams consists of springs and a limited drainage area or natural ecosystems. These micro watersheds provide vital watershed services and the main services are ground water and surface flow regulation, water purification, control of soil erosion and provide habitat for flora and fauna. Micro watersheds provide water for communities around the watershed and downstream for drinking and day today use, agriculture, industry and power generation. Encroachment for agriculture and settlements, clearance of forest areas, setting fire, conversion of land use, development projects, monoculture crops like tea and eucalyptus cultivations, excessive use of agrochemicals, dumping of wastes and climate change resulted in degradation of micro watershed areas and associated impacts such as decline of water flow during the day periods and loss of biodiversity. Further, increased population, intensification of agricultural land use, and growing demand on water for agriculture and other economic needs have strained water resources in the Micro watershed areas. It is very important and also our utmost responsibility to protect at least the existing micro watersheds in the upper watershed area in Sri Lanka to ensure water security for communities, sustainable livelihoods, uninterrupted power generation and to protect biodiversity etc,. When ASLM and RA work with the tea plantation companies for RA certification, it was noticed that micro watershed areas have been severely degraded by the inhabitants mainly due to encroachment for agriculture and settlements, dumping of solid wastes and exploitation for livestock feeding. Aquatic ecosystems protection, restoration and conservation is one of the criteria for RA sustainable agriculture certification and we motivated the plantation managements to take necessary measures to protect existing micro watersheds. When we start the implementation of GEF Tea project communities in the Lipton’s seat project landscape discussed and highlighted the lack of water resources as the main issue faced by the people in the project area. This is mainly due to Uma Oya development project, unsustainable management of micro watersheds and climate change impacts. Therefore, we decided to start micro watershed conservation activities as pilots in GEF tea project landscape and expend into other areas in future considering the severity of the issue. There are several problems with the watershed; 1. Most of the micro watersheds are belongs to the government or plantation companies and basically shows public good in nature 2. No proper management of micro watersheds 3. No proper boundaries, maps, titles and have land tenure issues 4. Poor enforcement of existing laws 5. Degradation of micro watersheds due to encroachment for agriculture and settlements 6. Destruction or damage of micro watershed due to development projects 7. Overexploitation of resources flora and water for livestock feeding and agriculture 8. Deposit or dumping of solid wastes into the micro watershed areas 9. Degradation of biodiversity If we do not protect micro watersheds 1. Lack of water for inhabitants for drinking, household use, agriculture and livestock (for livelihoods) 2. Reduce water flow for downstream especially during the dry periods and reduce water for water supply schemes, power generation, industry and livelihoods. 3. Affect biodiversity, especially the aquatic biodiversity due to dry out of streams and rivers 4. Conflict for sharing limited water Therefore ASLM together with RA, UNEP-GEF, Kirin and responsible government agencies got together and implemented a programme to conserve the existing micro watershed areas particularly within the large tea plantations in Badulla and Nuwara Eliya Districts. The main objective of the programme is identification, survey, boundary demarcation, conservation and declare legally as a protected area and sustainable management of them with the support of communities. Proposed activities • Selection of micro watershed areas from large tea plantations and prioritise based on the importance of conservation measures • Identification of correct boundaries and mapping of micro watersheds • Community awareness programmes on conservation and community management • Boundary demarcation and protection using eco-friendly materials (used wooden electric poles) • Planting of native plant species to increase biodiversity and to protect water source • Declare legally as a protected area by a gazette